Kirazlı Monastery

Kirazlı Monastery is located near the northeastern coast of the Kapıdağ Peninsula in the Erdek district of Balıkesir Province. Situated between the villages of Yukarıyapıcı and Ballıpınar (Kocaburgaz), approximately six kilometers west of Ballıpınar village, the monastery stands in a forested and elevated area. It was built at the foot of a mountain known in antiquity as Didymos Mountain.

Kirazlı Monastery. (Erdek Municipality)

History

The region where Kirazlı Monastery stands was an important religious settlement in antiquity. According to ancient sources, the geographer Strabo mentioned a temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess on Dindymon Mountain behind Cyzicus. This information supports the Orthodox tradition that the monastery was built on the site of an earlier pagan temple.

In the 19th century, Kirazlı Monastery served as a major religious center for the Greek Orthodox community. The complex, dated to 1895, exhibits architectural features characteristic of its period. The monastery was a pilgrimage site for the local Greek population and was particularly renowned for the icon of Panagia Faneromeni (Faneromeni Virgin). It was believed that this icon was the work of the Apostle Luke and possessed miraculous properties. As a result, the monastery attracted thousands of visitors. The icon is currently displayed in the cathedral affiliated with the Phanar Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul.

Kirazlı Monastery was abandoned in 1922 following the population exchange that removed the Greek population from the region.

Architectural Features

Kirazlı Monastery is a monastic complex consisting of a church and auxiliary buildings. Remnants of foundations and walls indicate that the structure was built in two stories above a basement. Parts of the southern wall of the church and the apse wall have survived to the present day. The masonry and construction techniques confirm that the building belongs to 19th-century Greek architecture.

The monastery complex was designed with 99 rooms and integrated harmoniously with the natural surroundings. However, over time the structure has largely collapsed, leaving only fragments of walls and foundations standing.

A section of Kirazlı Monastery. (Erdek Municipality)

Environmental Features and Other Remains

The monastery is situated in an area densely covered with vegetation and has gradually become absorbed into the natural landscape. The stream flowing beside the structure and the surrounding forested area have contributed to the preservation of its environmental integrity.

In addition to Kirazlı Monastery, the region contains other religious remains, including the Ormanlı Village Monastery Ruins, the Ballıpınar Village Church Ruins, and the Karşıyaka Subdistrict Church Ruins.

Access

Kirazlı Monastery is approximately 17 kilometers from the Bandırma-Erdek highway. Traveling from Bandırma toward Erdek, turn right into Düzler Mahallesi, then proceed via Belkıs village to Yukarıyapıcı village. Before entering Yukarıyapıcı, take a right turn off the main road and continue until just before reaching Yukarıyapıcı Reservoir, then turn right again and descend approximately two kilometers to reach the monastery ruins. An alternative route leads left from the monastery to Ballıpınar village. Public transportation from nearby towns also provides access to the site.